Our story begins in the present day
In a city not far away
One spark of life from a forgotten vial
He was born in a board room
Just off the Miracle Mile
This time, the shadow men whispered
They won't be turning the dial

We'll bring the future here and now

Well this is the story of Johnny America
We're makin' a music machine
We'll give him the look
We'll give him the voice
Like nothing you ever seen

We'll take twenty years to prepare his fate
We'll control every move he makes
Turn him loose on the world when he's coming of age
I'm the king of forever
He'll say as he hits the stage
And we'll be watching him closely
Our lab rat in the cage

We'll bring the future here and now

Well this is the story of Johnny America
We're makin' a music machine
Ten million CD's
On every TV
Like nothing you ever seen
This is the story of Johnny America
A new kind of music machine
We'll give him the look
We'll give him the voice
We're gonna make him scream

What kind of life is it, one man alone?
What kind of creature becomes immune?
Think of a young boy just out on his own
Think of how he'll sing the blues...

Well this is the story of Johnny America
We're makin' a music machine
We'll give him the look
We'll give him the voice
We're gonna make him scream
This is the story of Johnny America
A new kind of music machine
On every TV
And then DVD
Like nothing you ever seen